The Journey of a naive wanderer. Recently updated with pictures!
Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in Eastern Kazakhstan until June 2006, I taught English in a serene and antiquated village called Tarkhanka, snuggled among the hills in the Ulba River valley.

The comments on this blog are the writer's only and do not reflect the opinions of Peace Corps or the United States.

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

March 22nd, 2004

Last week my great uncle Bill, my Granny's brother, was diagnosed with brain cancer. It is the malignant kind with tendrils like fingers extending through the brain, and is inoperable. I have not spoken with him, but I hear that he is mostly cognizant with occasional bouts of delerium. The doctors gave him about two weeks.

He's the kind of guy that is so personable and amiable, you feel much closer to him than you really might be, having only talked to him several times in twenty years. Such is my case. This is just a reminder to me of how much life can change in a short time. We're like grass getting mowed, man.

He is a self-declared atheist - although he is probably more agnostic - and so I guess I shouldn't be surprised that he held a "tribute" to himself. I suppose that's why I didn't want to go see him; instead I retreated to Plano to see my sister for a few days. I think guys like uncle Bill, who work and work to make some mark on the world, want to know that there is indeed a mark, and in some way verify their "immortality" (because everyone in some way seeks immortality, whether true Life or not).

Addendum: Carlsbad was fun. Had a good trip. I should have pictures up soon. Saying more right now would seem kind of trivial, so I'll just leave it at that.